Latching device



April 29, 1930 G, PA WILD I 1,756,718

LATCHING DEVICE v Filed May 5, 1928 2 SheeiS-'Sheef 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

April 29, 1930. G, PWILD 1,756,718

LATCHING DEVICE Filed May 5,V 1929 2 sheets-sheet, 2

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Patented pr. 29, 1930 luNrran STATES GNTHER PHILIP W'ELD, 0? PHILADELPHIA., PENNSYLVANIA LATG'HIN G DEVICE Application led Hey 5,

This invention, generall stated, relates to a latch device for doors an has more especial relation to a latch device for refrigerator doors.

The leading object of the present invention may be said te reside in the provision of a latch device of the character stated in which is provided a set of opposed andcushioned endwise movable keepers limited as to outward movement and arranged for intermeshing engagement at the limit of the inner movement whereby a pair of doors may be simultaneously latched from the same set of keepers.

A further object resides in the provision of an arrangement of parts as above described. in which one of a pair of doors may be latched independently of the other from the same set of keepers.

A further object resides in the provision of general details of construction and arrangement and combination of parts for attaining the results sought by the foregoing objects.

A still further object is to provide a latch device of the character stated comprising very few parts which can be cheaply manufactured andassembled and which is very efficient for the purposes desired.

Other and further objects not at this time appearing will be hereinafter set forth.

The invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter described and finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1, is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing the application of my latchingzdevice to a pair of doors.

ig. 2, is a view in horizontal section drawn to an enlarged scale.

Fi 3, is a view in front elevation of my latchmg device detached from the door jamb.

Fig. 4, is an end view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5, is a view in section taken upon the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6, is a vlew in section taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

1928. Serial No. 275,413.

Fig. 7, is a view in perspective of the strap for limiting movement of the pair of keepers shown in Fig. 6.

` Fig. 8, is a View in side elevation of the kee ers detached.

or the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present pre erred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my .invention consists can be variously ar. ranged and organized and that my invention f is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 1 designates a fixed support as for instance the door jamb of a refrigerator, and 2 designates doors which in practice are hinged, although the hinge points are not shown in the drawings. Mounted upon the door jamb 1, which is between the two doors and secured by means of screws 3, is a casing 4 having a cylindrical bore 5 therethrough. The bore 5 extends through a laterally projected extension 6 of the plate 7, which plate is provided with holes 8 to receive the screws 3. Arranged withinthe bore 5 is a pair of opposed keepers designated 9. The outer end of each keeper is bevelled as at `10 and 11. The inner end of each keeper 9 is provided with a plurality of fingers 12 with openings 13 between adjacent fingers, the purpose of which will presently appear. Arranged between the opposed inner faces of the keepers 9 is a coiled spring 14 for normally pressing the keepers apart or to the position shown in F igs. 2, 3, and 6. In order to limit the outward movement of the keepers 9, use is made of a -strap 15, see Fig. 7, the ends of which are downwardly turned to provide stops 16. The strap 15 has a screw threaded opening 17 to receive the end of a screw 18 which passes through the extension 6in order to clamp the strap 15 with respect to said extension. That portion of each keeper 9 which passes the strap 15 is cut away as at 19 to form a shoulder Q0. Normally, or in closed position of the latch, the spring 14 presses the plungers 9 outwardly and outward movement is limited when the shoulders 20 abut against the terminal stops 1G of the strap 15.

Having described the general structure of the keepers, a description will now be given ofthe operation of the latching device in conjunction with the keepers.l Inthis connection it is to be noted that use may be made of any appropriate latcliing attachment for operating the keepers, but I prefer to employ the latching attachment shown and described in my Lettcrs'Patent of the United StatesY No. 1,637,168, dated July 26, 1927. At this time a brief description of this latching attachment will be given, and since the latching attachments for operating the keepers 9 are duplicates ofone another, a description of one will suflice. 21 designates a plate carried bly a door 2, and has fixed thereto a detent 22. IY aving hinged relation as at 23 with the plate 21 is a movable detent 24 which terminates in a handle 25. Interposed between the plate 21 and the movable detent 24 is a coiled spring 26. The function of the spring 26 is to keep the nose of detent 24 free of the lbevelled face 10 of the keepers 9, it being understood that the xed detent 22 is in abutting relation with the bevelled face 11 of keeper 9.

A description will now be given of how the latching device may be operated. In this connection it is to be noted that either one door may be opened independently of the other door, or both doors may be opened simultaneously. Assuming, for illustrati-ve purposes, that both doors 2 are to' be opened, the operator grasps the handles 25, and pulls them outwardly, thereby throwing the nose of detent 24 against the bevelled faces 10 of the keepers 9 and causing the keepers 9 to advance toward one another against the comression of spring 14. The fingers 12 of one eeper enter the grooves 13 of the other keeper and vice versa during this inward movement of the keepers. In other words, by the male and female arran ement of parts upon the inner faces of the eepers, space is economized because by the intermeshlng of the keepers the casing may be made very narrow. within the casing and free of the fixed detents 22, the doors 2 may be opened.

Obviously one door may be opened entirely g independently of the other as is readily ap- B5 parent from an inspection of the drawing, and in this particular case the "intermeshing of keeper parts is not nearly as pronounced as when both doors are opened,'although the inner ends of the keepers do slightly inter-- mesh.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects bviously with the -fkeepersmeshing as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claim rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a latch device of the character stated, a i

between said latches and seated in the .hollowed out parts of said latches, and means including a fixed strap having pendant terminals with which the notched parts of said latches engage to limit the outward movement of said latches.

' G. PHILIP WILD.

I 11oI 

